PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Jackson County supervisors this morning approved $5,000 to help study a Halstead Road boat launch and public access project in Ocean Springs.

The resolution passed Monday says the county will provide $5,000 to the city of Ocean Springs for the evaluation of a public access and site improvement project for public recreational facilities at the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.

The area being studied is an about four-acre tract on the lower third of the Halstead campus on 703 East Beach Dr. in Ocean Springs, leaders said.

Supervisor John McKay said the city will also put in $5,000 for the study, and USM is tossing in another $10,000.

The funding will assist with creating a conceptual plan and estimate for developing the property.

The overall project would likely include a double bay boat launch ramp, slips and piers, pavilion, roadway and parking spaces for public use.

"They city is short on spaces for people to launch their boats," McKay said. "This study is a combined effort, and we'll apply for Tidelands money to build the ramp."

There is a small boat launch ramp that the GCRL allows people to use now, "and there will usually be 10 people waiting to use it," McKay said, noting it is also aging and has very little parking.

"You also have to enter the research lab property gate to use the launch, but this one would be right at the foot of Halstead Road so people don't have to enter the main research property," he said. "It'll be heavily used and take some of the load off the busy Ocean Springs Harbor."

Compton Engineering is performing the study, McKay said.

Also at Monday's board meeting, supervisors:

Agreed to install 10 trash receptacles at Point Park for the city of Pascagoula at a cost of $4,772. The public park and boat launch is widely used by Jackson Countians, supervisors said.

Appointed Greg English to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Board of Trustees. He will take the seat of Donald Massengale Jr., who has severed on the board for more than 20 years.

Ratified the Jackson County Sheriff's Department's submission of an application for a 2014 Homeland Security grant for the Operation Stonegarden/Operation River City Project. The grant would be used to fund items such as marine patrol equipment and overtime.